Amid inflation and the lingering pandemic, food insecurity is rampant in NYC, especially for the most vulnerable: the poor, families with children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and those on fixed incomes.
In response, the Society’s Ethical Action Committee and our Social Service Board have mobilized to help our Upper West Side neighbors by partnering with the Resident Association at NYCHA’s Amsterdam Houses, including their Harborview Terrace senior community, and collecting donations of food and other household necessities that we drop off each month.
In just two weeks we collected over a thousand pounds of supplies to help residents, and we’re asking everyone to pitch in! Here’s how we can work together to help:
Donate to Help Us Purchase Food and Household Necessities Directly
Utilizing our existing memberships and relationships with wholesalers to be most effective, all funds raised will be used to purchase:
•Food, including fresh fruits and vegetables
•Diapers
•Tampons, pads, and hygiene products
•Other household necessities as requested
Drop Off Non-Perishable Food and Household Items or Have Orders Shipped to Our Meeting House
If you have canned or boxed foodstuffs you’d like to donate (NOT fresh fruits or vegetables), or other unopened non-food necessities listed above, simply stop by our meeting house at the corner of W 64 and Central Park West and leave them in the box in our lobby (or bring items when you attend any of our in-person programs). Alternatively, you can order items online and have them shipped to our meeting house.
Our address is: 2 West 64th St, New York, NY 10023
Requested non-perishable food items include:
Boxed pasta • Canned meats • Nut butters • Jelly/jam/preserves (no glass) • Canned or dry soups • Canned stews and chili • Coffee (ground only) and tea (bags only) • Canned pasta (e.g. Spaghetti O’s, etc.) • Hot and cold cereals • Rice • Flour • Cake mixes • Pancake mix • Syrup • Powdered milk • Juice boxes • Canned juices • Canned beans • Spam/hash • Canned gravy • Granulated sugar • Baby food and cereal • Baby formula (Enfamil/Similac) • Granola/cereal bars
Volunteer to Organize a 1-Hour Food and Household Item Drive in Your Building–We’ll Pick Up!
Simply get a message to the residents of your building to donate canned and boxed food items, or the other unopened necessities listed above. Society members Howard and Janet Rose will then come to your building, collect the donated goods, and bring them to Amsterdam Houses on our drop-off day. Contact Janet Rose at jrose@nysec.org to learn how to work with your building management to get out a message to residents asking them to donate boxed and canned foods.
No building staff need to be involved, with no collection box in your lobby. Simply let residents know that the Roses will be outside at the arranged day and time!
For questions, suggestions, and to volunteer, please contact Janet Rose at jrose@nysec.org. Thank you!
